DRINKING WATER QUALITY IN DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS OF SURFACE AND GROUND WATERWORKS IN FINLAND

Abstract

Physico-chemical and microbiological water quality in the drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) of five waterworks in Finland with different raw water sources and treatment processes was explored. Water quality was monitored during four seasons with on-line equipment and bulk water samples were analysed in laboratory. Seasonal changes in the water quality were more evident in DWDSs of surface waterworks compared to the ground waterworks and artificially recharging ground waterworks (AGR). Between seasons, temperature changed significantly in every sys-tem but pH and EC changed only in one AGR system. Seasonal change was seen also in the absorbance values of all sys-tems. The concentration of microbially available phosphorus (MAP, μg PO₄-P/l) was the highest in drinking water origi-nating from the waterworks supplying groundwater. Total assimilable organic carbon (AOC, μg AOC-C/l) concentrations were significantly different between the DWDSs other than between the two AGR systems. This study reports differences in the water quality between surface and ground waterworks using a wide set of parameters commonly used for monitor-ing. The results confirm that every distribution system is unique, and the water quality is affected by environmental fac-tors, raw water source, treatment methods and disinfection.